Lithuania Advises Throwing Away Chinese Phones

 

Lithuania found Xiaomi phones have censorship capabilities

Lithuania has an adverse reaction to Chinese phones, so much so it could erupt into a diplomatic row after its defence ministry has advised residents to avoid buying Chinese phones or even throwing away the ones they have now after a government report found the devices have built-in censorship capabilities.

Xiaomi phones have a built-in ability to detect and censor terms such as "Free Tibet", "Long live Taiwan independence" or "democracy movement", according to Lithuania's state-run cybersecurity body on Tuesday.

Abukevicius advised throwing out Chinese phones

While the capability of Xiaomi's Mi 10T 5G phone software has been turned off for the "European Union region", it can be turned on remotely at anytime, the defence ministry's National Cyber Security Centre said in the report.

"Our recommendation is not to buy new Chinese phones, and to get rid of those already purchased as fast as reasonably possible," said Defence Deputy Minister Margiris Abukevicius when introducing the report.

Xiaomi did not respond to Lithuania's allegations.

The report said the list of terms which could be censored by the Xiaomi phone's system apps, including the default internet browser, currently includes 449 terms in Chinese and is continuously updated. 

"This is important not only to Lithuania, but to all countries which use Xiaomi equipment," the centre said in the report.

The report warns against using any Xiaomi gadgets

Relations soured between Lithuania and China recently after Taiwan announced its mission in Lithuania would be called the Taiwanese Representative Office, causing China to demand Lithuania withdraw its ambassador in Beijing, and said it would recall its envoy to Vilnius.

Usually Taiwanese missions in Europe and the United States use the name of the city Taipei to avoid referencing the island itself, which China regards is its own.

Following Lithuania's report, how many other countries will take heed to its warnings regarding Xiaomi phones?

It will be interesting to find out...

Imports of Date Rape Drug on the Rise

Female revelers in Hong Kong need to watch their drinks carefully

The Hong Kong police is confiscating more of the chemical used as a date rape drug in the first four months of this year than the whole of 2017.

It's pretty shocking and scary that men are actually procuring gamma-Butryolactone (GBL) from Lithuania, and importing it into Hong Kong by the litre.

Gamma-Burtryolactone can be used as a date rape drug

GBL is usually used as an industrial solvent to remove paint, oil, ink and graffiti. A 350ml bottle of it in Lithuania costs HK$150 (US$19). When the colourless liquid is imbibed, users can experience euphoria and reduced inhibitions.

But in larger doses it can cause sleepiness, confusion, dizziness and in extreme cases, death.

So far 131kg of GBL, a clear and odourless liquid was seized in the first four months of this year, compared to 124kg for the entire 2017.

Earlier this month a male model and an Australian man were arrested in possession of 13 litres of GBL. They were arrested in a flat that was only 500 metres from Lan Kwai Fong, a trendy restaurant and bar area in Central.

"We recently noticed date rape drug in parcels arriving from Lithuania destined for Hong Kong. The parcels stated boldly that the contents were chemicals for industrial use," said a source. "The liquid is commonly used as an industrial cleaner in some countries and is perfectly legal. It is widely available online."

GBL is a clear, odourless liquid that can be added to drinks

While GBL is a controlled drug in countries like the United States, Canada and Sweden, in other places like Poland and Russia, a license is needed to sell it. Hong Kong lists GBL as a dangerous drug since 2012, so trafficking GBL to Hong Kong carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a HK$5 million fine.

The Hong Kong Security Bureau's Narcotics Division said on its website that this clear, odourless liquid is often used as a date rate drug and is added to flavoured drinks to mask its salty taste.

The case of these two men will go through the court system, but in the meantime women in Hong Kong need to be careful when they go out and watch their drinks like a hawk. Don't say I didn't warn you...